HOUSTON CHAPTER

Our Story – About

2017 marks the 10th anniversary of the formation of the Houston Chapter. The Houston chapter was formed in 2007 and initially grew steadily through the enthusiastic leadership of a few committed members. We are a non-profit organization committed to spreading the concept and practice of Servant Leadership in the Houston business community.”

CEO Netweavers is an engaged and diverse community of current and former CEO’s and a select group of Trusted Advisors, all of whom are committed to freely sharing relationships, knowledge and skills while cultivating trusted relationships. The pillars of our organization are based on transforming business practices and enriching lives through the three key principles that serve as the core values of CEO Netweavers: Servant Leadership (leading with the interests of others in mind), “Netweaving” (helping others) and Trusted Relationships: “Bridges of Trust” (built on mutual respect based upon the authentic and accountable connections of individuals, personal integrity, confidentiality, candor and self-respect). These lifetime relationships offer our members the opportunity to interact and “pay it forward” through honest and confidential communications with the recipient’s best interest as the guide. Our vision is to increase our diversity of thought, perspectives and enrichment.

For questions or more information, please reach out to us at houstonchapterinfo@ceonetweavers.org

Core Values

“Transforming business and enriching lives through servant leadership”

The Servant Leadership philosophy places the emphasis on the needs of others first by promoting the well-being of those around them. The servant leader demonstrates the characteristics of empathy, listening, stewardship and commitment to personal growth towards others. Servant Leadership is at the core of every CEO Netweaver.

“Follow-up and follow through”

The term “Netweaving” is the process of serving as the strategic matchmaker and acting as a willing resource provider for others.

Netweaving works because: it builds your personal brand as someone people should know; it instills an unintended sense of obligation by the recipient to assist others; and, it improves the attitude of all involved.

“Bridges of Trust”

Trusted Relationships are built on mutual respect based upon the authentic and accountable connections of individuals, personal integrity, confidentiality, candor and self-respect. In a professional setting the individuals in these trusted relationships

Houston Chapter

Our organization is governed by an Operating Committee providing many opportunities for members to get involved, to make an impact, and to engage with other members of the CEO-Netweavers community.

For questions or more information, please reach out to us at houstonchapterinfo@ceonetweavers.org

HOUSTON Chapter Operating Committee Members

President

:

John Vandy

President-Elect

:

OPEN

Past President

:

Bodene Orr

Treasurer

:

OPEN

Membership Committee Chair

:

Lawrence Jacobs

Program Committee Chair

:

OPEN

M&A Forum

:

CEO Inflection Point

:

OPEN

Mentoring Chair

:

Barry Goldware and Bodene Orr

Book Club

:

Directors Group

:

OPEN

Marketing/Media-/Sponsorship

:

Nominating Committee & Governance Committee Chair

:

Bodene Orr and Jim Deupree

Outreach

Inflection Point

CEO Inflection Point (CEO-IP) is one of the programs that underscore our commitment to the business community. At any point in the life of a business, there are inflection points in which the direction of the organization can or needs to change. It is at these inflection points where CEO Netweaver members can be most helpful. CEO-IP offers a structured, interactive environment in which a business leader meets with a group of CEO Netweavers serving as an advisory panel. During these multiple sessions, the advisors and the company’s CEO openly exchange ideas to help the company address the obstacles that they are currently facing to help them grow and prosper.

Annual Book Club

This annual special event brings together many passionate readers providing diversity of perspective and integrating those perspectives into a meaningful whole. Gain insights into trends from the summary of selected books presented by the Chief Netweaver, Mr. Bob Littell, deepen your knowledge, and forge life-long collaborations with colleagues and fellow Netweavers.

Please contact our Annual Book Club Chair, Deanna Young by email at houstonchapterinfo@ceonetweavers.org.

Mentoring

Through a co-developed program with the Jones Business School Executive MBA program at Rice University, CEO Netweavers members volunteer as mentors to all second year Executive MBA students. Bridging the Gap is an initiative to connect EMBA students with corporate and community leaders, entrepreneurs, and retired executives for the sharing of leadership insight through mentoring relationships. Among other things, the EMBA mentoring program provides each student with a trusted advisor that provides a long-term career perspective on topics selected by the student. Students and Mentors are carefully matched and meet regularly throughout the academic year.

Aligned with the Servant Leadership philosophy, the mentoring program aims to create lasting, mutually beneficial “bridges” that promote knowledge sharing, personal and professional growth, community building, and leadership development.

If you would like to further explore your interest in becoming part of our organization, please contact our Mentoring Program Chairs, Barry Goldware or Bodene Orr by email at houstonchapterinfo@ceonetweavers.org.

Partnerships

We enjoy partnerships with other organizations committed to the Servant Leadership model. Our first formal partnership is with the Greenleaf Center for Servant Leadership, headquartered in Atlanta.

We are also interested in additional partnerships. Please email us at houstonchapterinfo@ceonetweavers.org.

Membership

Chapter Meetings

CEO Netweavers’ monthly gatherings are educational meetings and programs targeting senior executives and their advisors who desire to build relationships and foster Servant Leaders within their organizations for higher performance.

CEO Netweavers hold monthly Chapter meetings attended by its members and invited guests on the fourth Thursday of each month. The meetings begin at 7:30 a.m. with networking followed by a program beginning at 8:00 a.m. Speakers are invited to present relevant topics that provide members with professional development. Meetings conclude promptly at 9:00 a.m. and often times small groups continue the discussion after the meeting and look for opportunities to Netweaver.

CEO Quarterly Roundtable

The purpose of the CEON-Roundtables is to provide opportunity for CEO members of CEO Netweavers to further develop and extend their servant leadership by helping other CEONetweavers through the roundtable process. Doing so will deepen personal and business relationships within our members and encourage others regarding servant leadership.

The quarterly roundtable allows for issues or areas of discussion to be brought the table. Throughout the year each roundtable member is provided an opportunity to raise an issue of interest to them. The outline for meetings and discussing topics includes:

Define the Issue and Make a Proposal Check for Understanding Check for Agreement Ask not Tell: Coaching approach to “advise”.

Lunch with a Purpose

Lunch with a Purpose is a quarterly, lunch time small group gathering, providing members with an opportunity to get to know each other personally and start enjoying the true Netweaver experience. Lunch with a Purpose is organized to support our new member onboarding process. Watch your email for quarterly announcements – save the dates – and plan to attend this valuable event.

CEO Netweavers – Awesome opportunities to get involved.

Member Programs (Investing in each other)

Monthly Chapter Meetings: Meet and mingle with other members and hear invited speakers share their insights on topics of interest.When: Fourth Thursday of every month from 7:30-9AMContact us at houstonchapterinfo@ceonetweavers.org

Lunch with a Purpose: Get to know other members in a small roundtable luncheon with facilitated discussion topics.When: Quarterly (Check CEO Netweavers monthly Newsletter for dates and location)Contact us at houstonchapterinfo@ceonetweavers.org

CEO Roundtables: Restricted to CEOs. Discussion and information sharing on CEO related topics in small group setting.When: QuarterlyContact us at houstonchapterinfo@ceonetweavers.org

Get Involved On One of Our CommitteesContact us at houstonchapterinfo@ceonetweavers.org

Outreach Programs (Investing in our business community)CEO Inflection Point (IP): Inflection Point panels offer a structured, interactive environment in which business leaders receive an open exchange of strategic advice on a variety of topics.

All CEO Netweavers members are encouraged to serve on a panel and welcome to refer a business to our CEO-Inflection Point program for consideration. We do prefer companies with customers and revenue.Contact us at houstonchapterinfo@ceonetweavers.org

Bridging the Gap – Mentorship Program

Aligned with the Servant Leadership philosophy, the mentoring program aims to create lasting, mutually beneficial “bridges” that promote knowledge sharing, personal and professional growth, community building, and leadership development.

If you would like to further explore your interest in becoming part of our organization, please contact our Mentoring Program Chairs, Barry Goldware or Bodene Orr by email at houstonchapterinfo@ceonetweavers.org.

Membership Agreement

Practices and Policies for Communicating and Exchanging Information Among Members

The CEO Netweavers Brand epitomizes integrity and trust, helping others first, and servant leadership. For those reasons it is priceless. Every Member shares a duty and care responsibility to protect our brand and the values of our organization across the myriad of ways we communicate and exchange information. CEO Netweavers has a set of written policies to guide us.

The primary areas of concern that these policies address and seek to avoid are:

Comments or language considered unprofessional, harassment, biased or unethical

Use of these resources to overtly promote one’s own business or other interests

Undermining CEO Netweavers reputation for trust and integrity through a violation of confidentiality, copyright or intellectual property privileges

Implied association, criticism or endorsement by CEO Netweavers of any political or religious individual or initiative.

We live in a time where one comment can erupt into a firestorm in a matter of minutes, where we are moving so fast that we may not pause to think about the consequences, and where damage can be done in seconds yet take years to repair. We also live in an era where CEO’s understand that risk management is a very important topic. Please help us by always keeping three basic policies in mind:

Information Policy – Our Members provide personal information to get to know and help others – through conversation and through our CEO Netweavers roster. It is strictly confidential within our organization, and not intended for business development or solicitation for any cause. We also enjoy a trusted community where we can freely discuss business issues. Inappropriate use by Members or distribution to anyone not a Member is not acceptable.

Mutual Respect and Professional Behavior Policy – Speak in the first person, add value, be thoughtful about how you present yourself. Avoid any language that can be considered harassment, unethical, unprofessional or socially improper.

Web and Social Networking Policy – Any social networking site utilizing the CEO Netweavers logo and brand must publish and adhere to these policies, and use must be limited to CEO Netweaver and Netweaver Partner Members in good standing. Administrative Control must be ceded to CEO Netweavers to insure compliance on both points.

CEO Netweavers reserves the right to immediately remove or alter any information not consistent with these policies, to disable a Member’s access to the CEO Netweaver website and any social networking platform utilizing the CEO Netweaver brand, and to discontinue the membership of the individual for serious or repeat violations of these policies.

Dated: January 10, 2017, v1

Why Join?

Members of CEO Netweavers are a trusted and caring group seeking to “Pay-It-Forward” and give back to individuals who are genuinely seeking to help each other. We interact by getting to know each other and considering ways we may connect each other with colleagues who may be helpful, without any expectation of getting something in return. We think this is rare in the world today.

As with any organization, you should be asking yourself “Why should I join CEO Netweavers? What does this organization bring that I am not currently experiencing in other organizations that I am involved with?”

Well, CEO Netweavers (CEON) offers CEO’s various channels of impact and involvement within the Atlanta business community.

CEON offers you a trusted community and environment where CEO’s can associate and have substantive discussions on topics they are specifically interested in or specific challenges they are encountering.

CEON provides opportunities to fulfill members’ desire to “give back” by using our knowledge, insight and experience to help other businesses and leaders solve problems and challenges.

CEON members model and teach Servant Leadership.

CEON offers exposure to high quality speakers on relevant topics.

These are all of the ways that we engage and enrich each other’s membership and businesses.

Thank you for your interest in CEO Netweavers.

Please refer to the FAQs for additional information on our organization and our Outreach Programs for the various ways our members support the business community.

If you would like to further explore your interest in becoming part of our organization, please contact our Executive Director, Pat Hurston, by email at pat@ceonetweavers.org or by phone 773-914-1735.